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What us Brits mean when we actually say....

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  1. #1

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    What us Brits mean when we actually say....

    jgl, Satay Sue, Rob2020 and 14 others like this.

  2. #2

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    Like .............


  3. #3

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    "In your own time" = "hurry the fuck up"

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    No problem.............not wasting my time on this
    Have an urgent appointment..........mates keep calling me to come to the pub
    I don't think this is possible...........you are a twat for suggesting it in the first place
    This is the best solution............I don't have any other ideas


  5. #5

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    That "quite" one has been a source of dispute with US colleagues before. Very true LOL.

    Apparently, with the USA and UK there is also a difference in the work "brilliant" .. the Brit's think it means "Brilliant" while the Yanks think it means "Good". (I think I got that the right way around).


  6. #6

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    How nice
    Really
    That's just wonderful
    I am really full
    Drop in sometime
    I must have an early night
    Good God! is that the time?


  7. #7

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    What us Chinese mean when we actually say....

    You speak good Chinese
    I dont understand
    Its an honour to be here
    Sorry I am late
    Do you think that bag looks good on me?

    Last edited by HKITperson; 19-03-2013 at 10:19 PM.

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by MovingIn07:
    That "quite" one has been a source of dispute with US colleagues before. Very true LOL.

    Apparently, with the USA and UK there is also a difference in the work "brilliant" .. the Brit's think it means "Brilliant" while the Yanks think it means "Good". (I think I got that the right way around).
    My experience based on some conversations with Americans is that "quite good" is reversed to what the chart claims. i.e. to Brits/Aussies it means that something is okay/good. To an American, "quite" is used as a stronger qualifer... i.e. not particularly good.
    MovingIn07 likes this.

  9. #9

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    Don't mean to be a grammar Nazi, but in British English is it proper to say "What us Brits..."? It's been driving me crazy every time I see this thread bumped TTT. If I'm not mistaken in American English it's "What we Brits...".

    Still trying to get used to the extra letters... oh, and as an American English speaker, "quite good" to me means something between OK and very good.

    Last edited by HK2A430; 19-03-2013 at 11:19 PM.

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by jgl:
    My experience based on some conversations with Americans is that "quite good" is reversed to what the chart claims. i.e. to Brits/Aussies it means that something is okay/good. To an American, "quite" is used as a stronger qualifer... i.e. not particularly good.
    Maybe this will clear it up - or further confuse things lol:

    What the British say: "QUITE good" (with the stress on the "quite")
    What the British mean: "A bit disappointing"
    What is understood: "Quite good"

    What the British say: "quite GOOD" (with the stress on the "good ")
    What the British mean: "excellent"
    What is understood: "Quite good"

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